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With the pre and post-game chatter centred around better things in 2017, it was a night for the kids on the Maple Leafs to enjoy the thrill of victory instead of another agonizing defeat.

All the scorers in a 4-3 win over the New York Islanders were 23 and under, topped by Nikita Soshnikov’s shootout decider and rookie goalie Garret Sparks making all four saves in the tiebreaker. The Leafs avoided a seventh straight loss and the sixth by a goal.

Coach Mike Babcock liked everything, from William Nylander’s tying marker with 1:13 to play, to Zach Hyman’s nose for the net which resulted in his second goal as a Leaf, as well. Morgan Rielly, on his 22nd birthday, added a rare Toronto power-play strike.

“I thought this was Nylander’s best game (of six in the NHL) by a mile,” said Babcock. “The first time he skated (well) since he got here. Hyman and Sosh are here to stay. They’re just too good, too hard, too fast and have too much work ethic. We’re fortunate. We have more good kids there (with the Marlies) and they’re pushing from the bottom.

“We did lots of good things — and made some mistakes,” added Babcock, lamenting Ryan Strome getting behind Jake Gardiner for a go-ahead goal inside of five minutes remaining. “Then we have a four-minute power play and get a too-many-men penalty. Lots of things that make you wonder, but we carried a lot of the play.”

Soshnikov was considered for the shootout game against Buffalo on Monday, but not used, a move Babcock rectified once Wednesday’s rounds got beyond P.A. Parenteau, Nazem Kadri and Nylander. After beating Thomas Greiss with the backhand deke he deploys in the AHL, he did a pump-up fly-by past the rinkside seats in celebration.

“I’m trying to help the team,” Soshnikov said through Russian interpreter Leo Komarov. “It’s a different league here, faster and harder. I’m going to keep working and keep playing the same way.”

Hyman and the others were finally able to join the rest of the club in the centre-ice post-win salute.

“There were smiles on all our faces, something we’ll always remember,” Hyman said. “That was cool to see us all factor in the win. And Sparks was huge.

“The first couple of games, you’re a little (intimidated). Once you settle in, you realize they’re just hockey players, as well, and you feel you can compete against them. The last shift tonight, I was going against (Isles’ captain) John Tavares. If that’s the first game, I’d be star-struck.”

Brendan Shanahan, who has defered to Lou Lamoriello and Babcock in speaking about the direction of the team, gave a quick state of the union between periods while commenting on the outdoor game Jan. 1 against Detroit at BMO Field.

“We are laying down a foundation. Obviously, there were some moves (recently) that gave our younger players an opportunity, that created some space for them and created (cap) space going forward. We want to be good as soon as we can, but it doesn’t mean you deviate from the plan.”

As for giving the youth movement a chance to start their NHL careers now instead of in late March and April, Shanahan said: “They’ve showed a lot of promise. Our fans have enjoyed watching them, even our veteran players. They’ve watched the Marlies, too, they want the help (in the lineup).

“The (kids) want to come up and get a taste of the NHL, whether it’s five, 10 or 20 games and give themselves a real measuring tool to go back this summer and prepare for how hard it is to be successful at the NHL level.”

The club president knows next year’s 100th anniversary will also be the 50th year since Toronto last won the Cup.

“We’re aware that all the people (Babcock and his staff, Lamoriello and an expanded front office) came to Toronto in the past couple of years and knew what they were taking on. It’s to eradicate that (Cup drought). We don’t run away from that date, from the men who played here and won Cups. We draw inspiration from that.

“We haven’t been happy with the last few years. (The anniversary) is not all going to be about looking back, a lot will be looking forward. It’s a balance between respecting our fans and showing fans and our alumni what we plan to do going forward.”

After some impressive puck handling to try and create an opening, Kadri lost the puck at the Isles’ blueline to Tavares, who was initially stopped by Sparks, but had the touch to put his 25th goal through the five hole.

Then it was Hyman jumping in on a rebound created by a hard Martin Marincin shot. Toronto briefly led in the second period when Kadri jumped out of the penalty box and into a power- play rush to help Rielly get his seventh of the year. Defenceman Nick Leddy then came down the left side for New York’s second unassisted goal.

But a winning comeback was finally in the cards, heading into weekend games in Ottawa and Detroit.

Youth shines in Maple Leafs shootout victory over Islanders

With the pre-game chatter centred around better things in 2017, a determined but depth challenged Maple Leafs team turned to its kids again to end a six-game losing streak.

William Nylander’s tying goal with 1:13 to play, with a man advantage and the goalie out, took the New York Islanders to a shootout, in which Nikita Soshnikov scored the 4-3 winner on Thomas Greiss. Another fellow Marlie, Zach Hyman, scored in the course of the evening, as the Leafs veered wildly from chances to win the game to handing it back.

After five one-goal losses, Toronto emerged with a home-ice victory. With a few minutes to play and the Leaf pressing, local kid Ryan Strome broke away from Jake Gardiner and put a puck under Garret Sparks that had just enough momentum to get over the line.